Dr. Sachin Kotalgaonkar
MD (Panchakarma) (Scholar)
Consulting Ayurved Physician and Panchakarma specialist

Shilajit- Introduction and Chemical Properties:

SHILAJIT, also known as SHILAJATU or Mineral Pitch or Asplaltum, originates from four metals- Gold, Silver, Copper and Black Iron. This is Rasayana (Rejuvenating medicine) in effect and if applied methodically it is aphrodisiac and alleviates diseases. Its potency enhances if it is impregnated with decoctions of drugs alleviating Vata, Pitta and Kapha either singly or collectively.

How to use Shilajit and the duration of its use:

The impregnation is performed by dipping it in lukewarm decoction and then taking it out at the end of the day, repeating this process for a week. This formulation provides happy long life, alleviates old age and diseases, stabilizes the body, promotes the intellect and memory and excellence if taken with milk diet (the fresh Cow milk being preferential than a packaged one). The use of this Rasayana is threefold- for seven weeks, three weeks and one week- regarded as superior, medium and inferior. The dose, in another perspective- again is threefold- 40 grams, 20 grams and 10 grams.

Specific characters according to the source and the method of administration:

The mountainous ores of Gold etc.. when heated by the sun, excrete a material like Lac- soft, smooth and clear. This is known as SHILAJATU/SHILAJIT. Shilajit obtained from gold ore is sweet, slightly bitter, having colour like Japa (Hibiscus rosa sinensis) flower, pungent in Vipaka and sheet (Cold) in Virya. That obtained from silver ore is pungent, white, cold and madhur (Sweet) in Vipaka. Shilajit obtained from copper ore has its color like neck of the peacock, having bitter and pungent Vipaka and hot in Virya. The Shilajit which is like Guggulaka (Commiphora mukul), bitter, slightly saline and katu Vipaka and having Cold Virya is the one obtained from iron ore and is the best amongst the four varities. All these types of Shilajit smell like cow urine and are applicable in many of the chronic diseases like Diabetes, Prostate disorders, Hypertension etc.. However in the use of Rasayana, the last one is preferred. As regards doshas, the abovesaid types of Shilajit are useful in vata-pitta, kapha-pitta, kapha and tridosha respectively.

Do’s and Don’ts for Shilajit consumption:

During administration of Shilajit, one should avoid vidahi (Pitta vitiating/ Acidity causing) food and behavior and “heavy to digest” (Guru) food substances particularly Horse- gram (Kulattha). Horse gram, due to exceedingly contradictory nature, breaks the stones as seen in practice, that is why, its use is contra-indicated. Milk, Butter-milk (Fresh preparations), Meat soup, Vegetable soup, water, cow urine and various decoctions can be used for dissolving Shilajit according to the object. As per the Ayurvedic literature, there is no disease in the world, which cannot be overcome by Shilajit. It, being a Rasayana (Rejuvenating medicine), also provides great energy to the healthy person if used methodically and timely.

Rasayana karma offered by Shilajit:

• It provides proper nutrition to each tissue.
• It increases Jaatharagni (digestive fire) as well as Dhaatu agni (Tissue fire), and hence the function of panchabhautik agni also gets improved.
• Hence, anabolic activity of new tissue generation with best qualities in the body is supported.
• It removes the kleda, ama and other waste products which are actually responsible for the ageing process. These waste products are also called as free radicals and rasayana like Shilajit removes these free radicals from the body. This action of rasayana is also known as anti-oxidant action.
• It gives strength to the srotasas or channels in the body. As their function improves, they start manufacturing better quality tissues.
• It increases Ojas and strength of the body.
• It normalizes/stabilises the doshas in the body.
• It is also useful in maintaining the Sattva quality of the mind. Hence, the mind and the sense organs and the motor organs become optimum in their qualities.

Modern science view on Shilajit:

Shilajit is a water soluble substance and insoluble in alcohol or eather or chloroform. It looks like the tar coal- black and dense liquid, which becomes crystalline and shining when dried. It is slightly sour, astringent in taste, Katu in Vipaka and is moderate (neither too hot nor too cold) in Virya. The Shilajit has in its composition, 9.5% water, 36.20% organic matter, 34.95% Earthern matter, 1.3% Nitroginous matter, 70.8% Lime and 1.35% Mica in it.

Shilajit has a great role on Urinary and Genital system in the human body, especially on the Kidnies. Phosphate level or Albumin level in urine can be treated using Shilajit as it increases the blood flow to the kidnies and thus improving their efficacy by raising the liquid content of the urine that flushes out these unwanted materials for the body.

Shilajit, probably, enters liver, and stimulates it, by entering into the blood circulation as its consumption is found to be responsible for more secretion of bile (Pitta). Its administration in the cases of Gall bladder stone or Cholecystitis has been found to be very usefull. Also, the cases of Obstructive Jaundice, Hypertension, High Blood Sugar Level hae been found with a great relief with the use of it. It generates the tendency of perspiration in Dermatitis and thus has very good effects on the skin as well. It is anti- lipidemic in action hence great to be used in Obese persons. Alone Shilajit can cure the clinical condition of Glycosuria (sugar level in urine). It is found to be having a great role in wound healing as well.

Dr. Sachin Kotalgaonkar

MD (Panchakarma) (Scholar)

Consulting Ayurved Physician and Panchakarma specialist